Category: movie

A.S. : Terminator 2 is one of my absolute favorite movies. I’ve seen it several times in my life, but I haven’t seen it at the time of its release in 1991 (I was 6 years old).

Because I couldn’t see it at the cinema, it was necessary to watch it now. The 2017 version is digitally remastered in 3D. I don’t really like the 3D technology but James Cameron invested 8 million dollars for the stereo conversion and the result is absolutely fantastic. The picture is crisp (not like the usual blurry 3D movies) and offers plenty of (reasonable) depth. Cameron had already worked with a lot of depth of field in the original movie, this is one reason the 3D version felt so intense. The movie is nowadays still thrilling, emotional and fantastic. The best sequel of all time. I guess my pulse curve is speaking for itself.

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I am happy to share a movie pulse of the faithful user G.R. from Brazil [Thank’s!]. I haven’t seen the movie “It” of Andy Muschietti myself. I probably never will, because I am not a “Horror-Type”. G.R. described shortly his experience as follows:

he had high expectations beforehand

the movie did not fulfill these prospects

The timeline offers a dramatic change, which really depicts the excitement the user had have at the beginning. Although the pulse decreases dramatically in the long run, it stabilizes after 1/2 h, followed by a very good development afterwards. A very high, long and spectacular peak around 1 hour and a nice intermittent performance up- and downwards in the 2nd half of the movie triggered the user.

A correlation of the users heart rate and his not fulfilled expectations can probably be found in the overall decreasing moving average. Again it would be so interesting to compare this single result with other records.

Your Movie Pulse is always welcome and will be inspected anonymously! [Mail me]

“It” 2017 by Andy Muschietti · a single user record

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Accompanied by Dr. André Weinreich, Head of Research & Science from emolyzr/Humboldt University, I’ve run several sessions during the winter semester 2016/17. We now have a gathered some data for the movies which had have enough attendees.

The numerical data provides two main starting points: either analysing the questionaire or the plain heart rate data. We check several options to find some correlations between them. The first obvious result is the relation of mean heart rate and liking. At present we focus on cluster analyses from both “ends”: the average rating as well as the individual pulse.

These are the mean heart rates of each screened movie in alphabetical order. In this earlier post some reasons are given, why these films were chosen. Most movies have been screened in a lecture hall, some at a regular cinema, which clearly caused immersiveness at different levels.

Some clues to read the data:

Have a look which approx. mean heart rate the movie evokes

Watch for immediate changes (up or down)

Look for sections which continously differ from mean heart rate

The dynamic range, the film has caused in general, is an indicator as well

Can an overall trend be identified in individual sections or the entire film?

Legend

Passengers

Robocop

Schönefeld Boulevard

Sylke Enders · 2014 · n=15 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

Stereo

Maximilian Erlenwein · 2014 · n=15 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

Zootopia

Byron Howard/Rich Moore · 2016 · n=14 (Lemgo, Lecture Hall)

The analysis’ goal is to find some structure in observing the heart rate of movie goers. One outcome might be the relation between the heart rate and the likness. Because we are still in the process of applying different approaches, we are not yet ready to publish the whole data.

If you are interested to get more details of this movie analysis study, it’s progress in analysis, or how Movie Pulse can be used for analyzing any feature length movie yourself, get in touch.

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The brazilian student G.N. has send me his first Movie Pulse result: “Life” of Daniel Espinosa. This movie has been a solid outer space science fiction to me, whose crew experience felt quite intense. I’ve literally been part of their crew.

I reject the “Alien-alike” bashing of this movie. It had a serious impact to me – encounter a life form of this aftermath combined with it’s inconspicuous appearance.

But this is it so far on discussing the (subjective) quality – I tend to show some nice similarities across oceans, borders and time. G.N. and me have had some strong identical reactions while watching this movie. I made again a simple image multiplication and only shifted the base line. The first two thirds are somewhat ok, but the reactions at the last 30/40 minutes are almost identical. Shifting the base line for each third would have unfold more similarities even within the first hour.

The overlapping represents similar reactions of two people of different origin and age watching “Life” · 2017 at different locations and dates.

These are the original graphs drawn by Movie Pulse.

The Brazilian recordThe German (my) record

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The Open Movie Database (OMDb) is currently under fire by some honks. Therefore finding a movie with Movie Pulse after recording will fail at present. Please keep records at “Unsaved Records”, note the title & date and try again later. You can check the OMDb availability status here.

This is what Brian Fritz from OMDb ist telling (4th of February 2017)

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Accompanied by Dr. André Weinreich, Head of Research & Science from emolyzr/Humboldt University, I’ve run several sessions during the winter semester 2016/17. We had up to two groups each week – one at the University Ostwestfalen-Lippe in Lemgo, the second at Humboldt University, Berlin. André Weinreich is a psychologist and researcher of emotions. He instantly understood what I am after, to examine the recorded heart rate of movie goers and he urged me to collect data on a broad variation of movie genres. We have two more movies left, but I’d like to compile the list of the recent movies.

The data is about to be analyzed – which will keep us busy the next months.

We probably release some insights from time to time, but please be patient for the proven outcome. Nevertheless I am still working on Movie Pulse as a tool useful for movie maniacs. I have a certain feature in mind for the next major release, but you’re always welcome to send ideas, feature requests and of course report malfunctions.

Autumn/Winter 2016/17 · Research Sessions

The Tin Drum, Volker Schlöndorff · 1979
n=14 (Lemgo)

This story is based on a novel which is freely inspired by historical events. I know this is the most controversy movie I show in my lessons, because students of several years told me. It has been chosen because it evokes disgust as well as sexual stimulation (among other other things, of course).

A drama with the focus on the relationship of a doctor and one of his patients, based on real events. This has been the movie I cried the most in my whole life. It has been chosen because of it’s emotional power to evoke compassion as well as it comes with a particular humor.

A caretaker is threatened by the household. Although a bit outdated in terms of it’s fantastic and dystopian filmic universe, the movie is a classic and has been a boiler plate for a series of these kind of movies. It’s part of the screening because of a provocative story, an imminent bad ending and hilarious comedy.

Doctor Strange, Scott Derrickson · 2016
n=16 (Lemgo, Cinema)

A mainstream movie, based on the Marvel comic universe with a favorable actor. Part of the list because of the absence of real human being living condition to identify with, as well as the presence of FX in visual and audio terms.

Legend, Brian Helgeland · 2015
n=16 (Lemgo, Lecture Hall)

Based on the life of two real brothers, this movie brings two important things: an impressive performance of a famous actor (playing adult twins) along with an incredible story. Chosen because of it’s intensity of character presence, conflict and brutality.

Her, Spike Jonze · 2013
n=15 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

An intellectual movie facing a near future we might have with our smart devices. The movie develops an relationship between the main character and a machine. The scale of emotional involvement of the audience in this artificial plot setup makes this movie interesting for the list.

A movie based on the proven success of an existing phantasmagorial filmic universe. It deals with conflicts of characters of a non-contemporary plot, fantastic creatures and audio-visual impression. It has been chosen because of the probably lesser character identification, but larger impact in visual and sound terms.

Gone Girl, David Fincer · 2014
n=15 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

Based on a major conflict a couple has to deal with, the story heads towards classic changes in character judgement by the audience. This movie delivers a focus on the compassion the audience might have with the male or female – without being distracted by visual effects.

The dystopian Science Fiction settled on Earth in some near future re-interprets the successful original from 1987. The movie contains threatening cutting edge technology as well as the misfortune of a human being. Both made this movie useful for the list: the massive audiovisual impact of FX and the sympathy with the main character.

Deadpool, Tim Miller · 2016
n=16 (Lemgo, Lecture Hall)

Based on another Marvel comic character, this movie provides a cynical, obscene and hilarious hero and a classic hero arc. This movie has been chosen because of it’s classical plot, hilarious comedy elements as well as it’s controversial character.

Schönefeld Boulevard, Sylke Enders · 2014
n=15 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

A female misfit character reclaims her acceptance within her adolescence development. A movie dealing with down-to-earth real problems of a young woman in a contemporary time frame and a ordinary setting. The absence of larger than life plot construction (and production scale) makes this movie of use for the list. How will this affect the compassion ability of the audience?

Zootopia, Byron Howard/Rich Moore · 2016
n=14 (Lemgo, Lecture Hall)

A weak character by definition (bunny) in a classical zero to hero (animation) movie. How will the animated characters move the emotions of the audience? Will the movie provide an immersive experience similar to non-animated movies? These are some main questions we might have analyzing it.

Stereo, Maximilian Erlenwein · 2014
n=15 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

Preceding events of the life of the main character are affecting the love to a woman. The movie comes with a realistic setting along with a kind of psychedelic split-person threat. How does the audience deals with the psychic harassment as well as with the imminence through physical brutality will make this movie of use for us.

Heil, Dietrich Brüggemann · 2015
n=16 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

Besides it’s humorous handling of (German) nationalism, the movie has an intellectual quality while offering jokes on all kind of institutions, social levels as well as media formats. The questions for the study can contain the following: How does the controversial topic, the hilarious exposure of quite all characters and the quick succession of jokes will affect the audience?

Labor Day, Jason Reitman · 2013
n=16 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

A unpredictable character intrudes the life of a single mother with light force. A drama as well as a love story does the movie provide a strong quality of sympathy for all three main characters: intruder, mother and son. Besides the grade of identification with the personell will (presumably) the predictable and imminent end provide strong emotional response of the audience.

Passengers, Morten Tyldum · 2016
n=14 (Lemgo, Cinema)

This science fiction with a fundamental optimistic belief in human expansion (technological and spacial) is an intimate theater on a space ship of sheer enormity. The lack of an alien threat helps to focus on the existential situation (mainly) two people are in. Therefore we can exploit how the audience involves with the development of the couple and how the the imminence both have to deal with affects visually and especially at the sound design.

American Psycho, Mary Harron · 2000
n=16 (Berlin, Lecture Hall)

Summer 2016 · Research Sessions

We probably won’t be able to include the following movies, because of poor attendance and we had an essential change in questionnaire structure. We might be able to run additional sessions to increase the required number of test persons; the sessions are not necessarily bound to take place at the same location/at the same time. But, the lack of questionnaire quality does not recommend it.

Guardians of the Galaxy, James Gunn · 2014
n=8 (Lemgo)

Victoria, Sebastian Schipper · 2015
n=12 (Lemgo)

A Fish called Wanda, Charles Crichton/John Cleese · 1988
n=8 (Lemgo)

Fight Club, David Fincher · 1999
n=7 (Lemgo)

Martyrs, Pascal Laugier · 2008
n=7 (Lemgo)

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Wow, this has been a while. Silence means not inactivity. So I’d like to give you some updates right now. I will start with this great movie “Passengers” by the Norwegian Morten Tyldum (director) and Jon Spaihts (writer) from 2016. To my extend this is a new landmark for future design and an example of dedicated craftsmanship in script writing. A limited cast with a great dilemma in existential scale. It has been a pleasure to be a part time space (and time) traveller while watching this movie with its superior production design. Guy Hendrix Dyas work is nominated for the Oscar 2017. He better be!

I’ve been accompanied by 15 students of mine – they’ve been willing to give me their heart rate in exchange for the ticket. It was a kind of semester goodby as well. Their results are not yet evaluated. The raw data looks very mixed, as always.

Some of the multiple recordings – raw and not yet synced

But because I’ve seen the movie twice, I’ve been curious to compare my first and second visit of the same movie. I felt very strong body reactions because of certain story incidents, as well as from the brillant sound. Did I mentioned the audio? Wow, terrific! I found an insight of the work of Will Files – one of the gifted audio folks involved.

A short look at both graphs made available through my app Movie Pulse obviously confirmed my presumption. But that even the high and low peaks at the end match 100% is definitely by chance. I combined both graphs for better comparison.

The impact after 1 hour has even been higher at the 2nd screening.

Since I do not yet have the movie available on DVD or Bluray I can only guess what happened after 1 hour. I am pretty sure that this has been caused by a simply two line dialogue, because at the 2nd screening I knew instantly that these en passant spoken words will have serious consequences. As I write these lines: what if not? Let’s see later, if the movie is available. Come on, it’s an assumption, can be proven wrong…

Jim: There’s no secrets between us.
Arthur: Is that the case?

Michael Sheen as “Arthur” the android barkeeper

Because I have access to the raw data of the recordings on my research devices (which is not [yet] available at the official app at iTunes, because of privacy rules), I can get my hands on the data curves. I made two graphs, comparing both recordings. As always the data is now basis 0 at the average heart rate and normalized.

Both curves compared show areas of very similar reaction of the test person (me)Time line to compare both movie screenings: green areas depict similar reactions, red ones show the timespan which differentiates

There are a bunch of movies with a horseload of data waiting to be analyzed and evaluated. Among them the heart rates of 15 people watching this movie. Let’s see if I can find some more conformity comparing those, rather than my own visits. Dr. André Weinreich and me are almost done with the sessions in this semester. I will give you a follow up what happened the last months.

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I have to admit that I am currently running out of time for watching movies. But a friend helped me out with an impressive movie pulse of “Room” by the Irish Filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson. Brie Larson won the Oscar for her Joy “Ma” Newsome character.

“Room” by Lars Abrahamson, 2015

See by yourself: this is a awesome steady increase- I have never seen something like this before.

I am so curious what kind of story caused this almost symmetrical climax?

My habits on movies are quite special: I avoid to know anything beforehand and just mark a movie “worth watching”, after I picked something here and there. I’m quite sure I will still find a cinema in Berlin playing this movie, it’s on top of my list now! I won’t even watch the trailer – you may…

Consider sending me your movie pulse after watching this (or any other) movie, since the fun part is comparing.

“Room” by Lenny Abrahamson, Trailer

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I am quite busy because of improving my analyzing tool set for multiple records. Spreadheet analysis with charts, graphs, normalization, gender, age, formulas and stuff. A hell of a lot of data to process. This will keep me busy probably for the next weeks.

But sometimes I am able to reserve some spare time to watch a movie – like “The Nice Guys” by Shane Black which is a really entertaining piece of flick. Steady increasing heart rate – like the joy I had watching it. To guys going goon: Ryan Gosling as the stupid goon and Russell Crowe as the one with the loose fists. Watch those guys in this quite hilarious circumstances yourself. Before it’s to late.

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We had a long awaited trip to the cinema with our two boys, age 6 the little and the older one became 8 years old just recently. They have watched so many Angry Birds Shorts and now wanted to see the feature movie. When I asked them why, they could not really state more than “it’s fun”. I’ve read a very short review stating it’s a sequence of gags only. Not a good starting point for parents.

But to make an ease start: we’ve had fun watching it. Recording the pulses of all family members had brought some prove that these kind of movies are build on two major layers (if we disregard the fact that we four are not a qualified test screening quantity).

I won’t go into detail on the movie itself. It’s a merely simple world and characters, compared to “Zootopia” for example. But the richness of references to contemporary and history of media has a certain quality. We, the parents, had often laughed out loud: Terence can be seen as a revenant of Chief Bromden from “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and you can meet the female twins of “Shining” as well as you can party with Daft Punk. Not to mention that Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” will be played at a central moment for the (former) hero Mighty Eagle. And the main character Red has a interesting personality and a goal; presumably this movie has a story after all.

This is my major outcome of inspecting the results of the Family Record: red depicts the time children and parents reacted different while watching the movieThe following steps will explain how this result has been achieved. If you’re not familiar with the workflow I developed so far, I recommend reading the “Citizen Kane” post first, because I’d like to refer to some steps with not going into detail again.

All four records stored in the Movie Pulse appAll records as relative values on their main average, which refers as base zeroAll of the four records of the family members are changed to relative values, based on their single average. Parents records have a warm color, the records of the children are shown in cold tones.

The aberration of all family members (light grey) and less than average aberration (dark grey)Higher values show greater discrepancy. Dark grey depict areas of less than average aberration, which means the majority of viewers tend to have the same reactions, either above or below their main average.

Accordance of 100% percentage in red, calculated average in grey.The red line shows the moments of the film when the complete family has reacted in the same manner: all four have had either a raised pulse above zero, or had have a calm pulse below zero. The amount of accordance over time is 17,6%. But I now start a little clustering and interpretation.

The accordance of the majority (3 out of 4) compared with 100% accordance (black)As I stated in the beginning: I refer to the same procedure I developed for “Citizen Kane”: besides the finding of 100% accordance, I am looking for the areas of conformity of the majority of viewers (3 out of 4). This shows a greater pattern of resemblance over time: a high result of 68%!

But this time I will try something new: I’d like to match the differences of the children’s outcome with those of the parents!

The results are divided into the subcategories “Parents” and “Childs” and their results are computed separately. This proofed the idea that watching “The Angry Birds Movie” triggered both groups in different ways.

100% accordance ·100% accordance of the parents ·100% accordance of the children ·discrepancy of parents vs. childrenThe green row is the result we’ve had in different styles beforehand: 100% accordance (17,6 %) of all family members. Grey is used to mark the timespan when both parents reacted similar (astonishing 57,3%), blue shows the conformity of both boys (an even higher result of 58,8%) and finally red discloses disparity between the parents and children’s reactions (50,4%).